Scripture

Who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord revealed His powerful Arm?

~Isaiah 53:1, NLT

Quote

To me Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 are two of the most fascinating scriptures in all the Bible: both give graphic details of the crucifixion of Christ centuries before it happened.

~Ya’akov

When I get tired, I lay down and listen to sermons and this week and last, I’ve been listening to sermons on Isaiah 53. As I listened yesterday, the LORD revealed something to me. Isaiah 53 can affirm your faith in Jesus. The devil tempts every true believer with doubt. If He tempted Jesus with these words, “If You are the Son of God,” he will tempt us. Satan could not point out any weakness in Christ, so His temptation was a little different. Satan tempted Jesus to use His supernatural power for selfish reasons. He tempts us to rely on the flesh because we have no supernatural powers. Satan tempted Jesus to do something, many times he tempts us after we have done something that we should not have done…“If you were a Christian, you would not have behaved is this way.” Take this litmus test. If you can honestly affirm each of these statement with I BELIEVE, you are a Christian. Unbelievers cannot do this?

• I believe Jesus has borne my grief and carried my sorrows
• I believe Jesus was wounded for my transgression {acts of rebellion}
• I believe Jesus suffered severe chastisement for my peace
• I believe the Father in Heaven laid all my sin on Jesus
• I believe Jesus was cut off {crucified} for my sin and transgression
• I believed Jesus made Himself an offering for my sin.
• I believe I am justified before God on the basic of what Jesus did for me.
• I believe Jesus bore all my sins.
• I believe Jesus interceded for me {died in my place}
• I believe the Father is fully satisfied with the offering Jesus made in my behalf.

We had a messianic Jew in our prayer group on Monday and he affirmed what I had heard before: Orthodox Jews read the O.T., but they skip Isaiah 53. It is the SILENT chapter, it is never mentioned among them; just as though it does not exist. They are unable to see Jesus in this chapter and will not confess that He died for their sin. Has the LORD revealed to you that Jesus is His powerful Right Hand. If He has, you will affirm every statement above that comes directly from Isaiah 53.

Three verses leading up to Isaiah 53…

• Yes, the Sovereign LORD is coming in power.
  He will rule with a powerful arm. {Isaiah 40:10}
• My mercy and justice are coming soon.
  My salvation is on the way.
  My strong arm will bring justice to the nations.
  All distant lands will look to me
  and wait in hope for My powerful Arm. {Isaiah 51:5}
• Wake up, wake up, O LORD! Clothe yourself with strength!
  Flex your mighty Right Arm! {Isaiah 51:9}

Three verses that follow Isaiah 53…

• Listen! The LORD‘s Arm is not too weak to save you. {Isaiah 59:1}
• So He {God} Himself stepped in to save them with His strong Arm. {Isaiah 59:16}
• I was amazed to see that no one intervened to help the oppressed. So I myself stepped in to save them with my Strong Arm. {Isaiah 63:5}

I am assuming you understand: Jesus is the Father Right Hand or Arm.

Extra

The weather folks change their minds every few minutes and now they are giving rain again. I hope they are right. My sister Holly sent me an antidote this morning…two young boys were attending a wedding against their will. After the ceremony, one looked at the other and asks, “How may wives did he say a man could have?” “Sixteen,” said the other boy- 4 better, 4 worse, 4 rich and 4 poor.”

Have a good day and thanks for reading the blog.